New Zealand is about to get its first mass-produced motorcycle – the Mira MT80.
The 80cc two-stroke, which will be available in motocross and supermoto configurations, is the brainchild of a company called Savice.
The bike, developed by engineer Denver Lawson, features a patented new technology where the power valve – a routine fixture in two-stroke engines – is utilised to boost bottom-end performance rather than mid-range.
The effortless access to torque enables the MT80 to have a four-speed gearbox, resulting in a significant weight reduction and increased ease of use.
"MX forums on the web are full of dads asking questions about how to tune their kids Japanese 85cc motocross bike to make it more rideable,” said Lawson. “We identified there was a gap in the market between cheap, low-tech Chinese dirt bikes and the highly tuned, high-maintenance designs of the Japanese."
The Mira MT80 is now undergoing final chassis testing before production begins, at Savice's manufacturing facility in Chongqing, China.